The following is from an Israel support mailing list.

From: Harvey Tannenbaum
It's Still the Best Place for Jewish People!
Thu, 19 Jul 2001 

For some of you who were concerned at our situation here,
we are appreciative of your support from over there.
At times the letters reflect much frustration, anger, sadness,
and uncertainty as to why we are in the big mess of today,
Israel 2001.  We would like to share with you some of the
reasons why Israel is still the best place for the Jewish
people,in spite of the headlines.

You know that you have chosen the right place to live when:

A.  Your children ask you what we will be planting in our garden
    after Rosh Hashana 5752, as they learn the laws of shmitta and
    understand that even the land needs a 'rest' for a year.

B.  You are driving on the highway and on the side of the road,
    two soldiers are standing in their full IDF uniform, bullet
    proof vests, guns, and propped under the helmet is the
    "shel rosh" or tefilin placed on the head.  Your children say
    to you, "Abba, did you see that soldier, mitpalel bkvish"?
    (Did you see that soldier in prayer?)

C.  You forgot to buy something at the supermarket and your 6 and
    4 yr.olds volunteer to walk back to get the item at the
    supermarket.

D.  You are riding in a taxi and have hired the driver to wait for
    you and keep his meter running.  You return from your errand
    and the driver is learning a daf yomi (page of Talmud) while
    waiting.

E.  You complete a bank transaction at the teller's window and
    the teller asks you if you could join the bank employees for
    a 'quick mincha'(afternoon prayer) and invites you to be the
    chazan (leader).

F.  You go to the gas station, the computer is down to take credit
    cards, you've filled your tank, and a person you just met at
    the next gas pump gives you the cash for your gas and he tells
    you to pay him back next time you 'see him!?'
    (When will I see him, who is he?)

G.  Your 4yr. old wants to know when is the next time he can go to
    the Kotel and go under Abba's talit to bless "Am Yisrael."?
    (his words)

H.  You go to a Ministry for some forms,realize that a friend of a
    friend works there, you wait in line, get to the counter and the
    clerk helps you and then realizes that she has been carrying
    around her son's barmitzvah invitation and hands it to you in
    person.

I.  You go to your dentist's office and in the waiting room are
    sets of chumashim and mishna brura instead of PEOPLE magazine.

J.  You walk down Ben Yehuda on a Friday and ladies are passing
    out candles and candlesticks for Friday night light

K.  You walk into a bakery and want to eat a sandwich.
    The sandwich is marked 'mezonot'(no need to try and find a
    place to wash for a blessing).
    It looks like bread for which one has to 'wash.' but it is
    marked mezonot.

L.  You take a bus to Tel Aviv and as you pull out of the bus
    station in Jerusalem, the driver recites tefilat haderech
    (prayer for travel) on his microphone for us to answer Amen.

---------------  -----------------  ------------------
There are so many more incidents, stories, activities, and
experiences which one cannot get over there, but only here.
Therefore, we conclude and confirm that whether we have to
suffer another war or one day enjoy a real peace, Eretz
Yisrael,State of Israel,
---IT'S STILL THE BEST PLACE FOR JEWISH PEOPLE!

Harvey Tannenbaum
Living in the Best Place!